Couple will film public service announcement against reckless teen driving

John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

MICHAEL A. MARIANT/THE AP/NOV. 2007 FILE

BY ANTHONY VIOLANTISTAR-BANNER

Published: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 12:48 a.m.

OCALA - John Travolta and Kelly Preston have issued a statement of sympathy regarding the five young men killed in an automobile accident last month near the Travoltas' home on the Jumbolair Estates airstrip near their property in Anthony.
The couple will also make a public service video about racing and high-speed driving "dedicated to the young men and it will be their legacy to their peers."
Last week, the Star-Banner contacted Travolta's representatives to see if the world-famous actor would comment on the tragedy on Jan. 26 that took the lives of local residents Jacob Casey, 19, James Devon Hime, 19, Joshua D. Ammirato, 18, Dustin J. Dawe, 19 and Isaac Rubin, 20.
Ammirato was driving his father's gray 2008 BMW at speeds of at least 120 miles per hour, when he lost control of the vehicle and it sailed about 200 feet into the air off the end of the 1.5-mile airstrip and crashed into a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The car was traveling north on Runway 36, which is often used by Travolta when he pilots his jet airplanes. It is private property in the gated, aviation community.
Travolta has lived here more than five years with his wife and two young children. The couple deliberately did not comment soon after the accident out of respect for the parents and families, a representative said.
This week, however, Travolta and Preston issued the following statement to the Star-Banner through their representative:
"John and Kelly have not commented on the recent tragic events at Jumbolair in deference to, and in respect for the parents, family and friends of the deceased young men. Words can do little to dull the pain of the loss of a loved one. As parents, the Travoltas can only imagine the depths of sorrow and agony that the boys' parents must be experiencing. Youth should be a time to live and learn from one's mistakes.
"Unfortunately, like with so many facets of life for the young these days, some decisions children make carry irrevocable consequences. It is clearly not fair, but it is a part of life. John and Kelly believe that all of the young men, if asked, would do all in their power to protect their peers from a similar fate.
"For this reason, to honor the young men whose lives were taken before they had a chance to live, and to reduce the number of parents who will suffer a similar fate in the future, John and Kelly will make a public service announcement directed to teens about racing and high speed driving. It will be dedicated to the young men and it will be their legacy to their peers."Anthony Violanti may be reached at 867-4154 or anthony.violanti@starbanner.com.

OCALA - John Travolta and Kelly Preston have issued a statement of sympathy regarding the five young men killed in an automobile accident last month near the Travoltas' home on the Jumbolair Estates airstrip near their property in Anthony.<BR>
The couple will also make a public service video about racing and high-speed driving "dedicated to the young men and it will be their legacy to their peers."<BR>
Last week, the Star-Banner contacted Travolta's representatives to see if the world-famous actor would comment on the tragedy on Jan. 26 that took the lives of local residents Jacob Casey, 19, James Devon Hime, 19, Joshua D. Ammirato, 18, Dustin J. Dawe, 19 and Isaac Rubin, 20.<BR>
Ammirato was driving his father's gray 2008 BMW at speeds of at least 120 miles per hour, when he lost control of the vehicle and it sailed about 200 feet into the air off the end of the 1.5-mile airstrip and crashed into a tree, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.<BR>
The car was traveling north on Runway 36, which is often used by Travolta when he pilots his jet airplanes. It is private property in the gated, aviation community.<BR>
Travolta has lived here more than five years with his wife and two young children. The couple deliberately did not comment soon after the accident out of respect for the parents and families, a representative said.<BR>
This week, however, Travolta and Preston issued the following statement to the Star-Banner through their representative:<BR>
"John and Kelly have not commented on the recent tragic events at Jumbolair in deference to, and in respect for the parents, family and friends of the deceased young men. Words can do little to dull the pain of the loss of a loved one. As parents, the Travoltas can only imagine the depths of sorrow and agony that the boys' parents must be experiencing. Youth should be a time to live and learn from one's mistakes.<BR>
"Unfortunately, like with so many facets of life for the young these days, some decisions children make carry irrevocable consequences. It is clearly not fair, but it is a part of life. John and Kelly believe that all of the young men, if asked, would do all in their power to protect their peers from a similar fate.<BR>
"For this reason, to honor the young men whose lives were taken before they had a chance to live, and to reduce the number of parents who will suffer a similar fate in the future, John and Kelly will make a public service announcement directed to teens about racing and high speed driving. It will be dedicated to the young men and it will be their legacy to their peers."<BR>
<i>Anthony Violanti may be reached at 867-4154 or anthony.violanti@starbanner.com.</i>